Cargo parachute assembly

ABSTRACT

The pilot parachute and the cargo parachute, together with all of their fittings, are assembled and packaged as one single complete unit.

United States Patent 1 menu Heinz Dochow Sachsenried Ueber Schongau,Germany 791,668

Jul. 16, 1969 Sept. 7, 197a Riehrd Kohnke Fallsehirmwerk Zkgelhausen beiHeidelberg, Genny Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee CARGOPARACHUTE ASSEMBLY 2 Claimsfl Drawing Figs.

1.1.5. CIL 244/1142 FieldolSea-eh 244/142, 147, I48, 145

[56] Meferences Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,909,158 5/1933 Albihn244/147 2,396,126 3/1946 Quilter et a1.. 244/148 2,495,873 1/1950 Strong244/145 2,762,589 9/1956 Frieder et a1. 244/148 3,018,074 1/1962 Quilter244/147 Primary Examiner-Milton Buchler Assistant Examiner-Carl A.Rutledge Attorneys- Francis D. Stephens and Hugo Huettig, Jr.

ABSTRACT: The pilot parachute and the cargo parachute, together with allof their fittings, are assembled and packaged as one single completeunit.

PATENTEDSEP Hen 3,603 536 SHEET 1 0F 2 uvreurok //Euvz D cHo CARGGPARAClHl UTE ASSEMBLY This invention relates to a cargo parachuteassembly. It is one of the objects of this invention, to avoid thedifficulties and operational malfunctions likely to occur utilizingconventional equipment by simplification of aerial delivery systems andthe method of handling such equipment. It is a further object to prolongallowable storage time for such type equipment. Also, according to thisinvention depot maintenance shall be deleted and considerable savings inmaterial and labor are obtained.

For the opening procedure a cargo parachute requires utilization of apilot chute. A clevis is required to facilitate attachment to the load.In conventional cargo parachute assemblies, pilot chute with pack andclevis are designated separate items, being kept under separate storage.In order to decrease aircraft standby periods, proper vehicles transportthe prepared loads from depot or open storage to the airfield. The loadsare transferred to the aircraft and properly lashed. According toconventional systems, cargo parachutes, pilot chutes and clevis arewithdrawn from separate storage as required and transported to theaircraft. in alert takeoffs, cargo parachutes often have to be preparedon the vehicle, in the aircraft or in flight, with no or inadequatelight available. Cargo parachute container with canopy is placed uponload, with open container mouth pointing in direction of delivery. Breakcords threaded through grommets provided for on parachute containerfasten parachute assembly to load. Pilot chute connector strap isattached to container bridle loops by means of a separable connectorlink. Pilot chute pack is positioned behind and beneath cargoparachute'container facing the nose of the aircraft and tied to the loadwith two break cords. The strap connecting pilot chute and containerbridle loops is placed in S-folds with the ends being secured withrubber retainer bands. The static line connector snap is placed uponload. The open clevis is attached to suspension web connector straploops. The attaching loops of the aerial delivery container arepositioned on clevis bolt and secured with tape. Conventional riggingand installation systems require employment of trained personnel. Theloss of important connecting and/or attaching elements may result intotal failure of the aerial delivery mission, as spare parts may not beavailable.

This invention therefore comprises a cargo parachute assembly, in whichcargo parachute canopy with container, pilot chute with pack, clevis andtheir connecting elements represent one complete unit, with nocomponents to be lost. Further comprising a cargo parachute assemblyavailable at low cost, with extreme maintenance-free storagecapabilities. Thus, an expendable item of equipment that need not berecovered upon serving its mission, unless so desired for particularreasons.

According to this invention, the complete assembly consisting of cargoparachute canopy and container, pilot chute canopy and pack, loadconnecting clevis with connector straps represent one solid unit, withpilot chute connector strap permanently attached to bridle of cargoparachute container, with pilot chute pack buttoned to bottom of cargoparachute container, with load connecting clevis already installed onsuspension web connector straps, positioned inside cargo parachutecontainer. An advantage is to be found in the detachable fastening ofpilot chute pack to cargo parachute container. The release straps, sewnto the inside of the container cross each other at the opening providedfor in the bottom panel and form the bridle loop utilized for pilotchute connector strap attachment.

Again, according to this invention the cargo parachute assemblycomprises cargo parachute and pilot chute containers, being manufacturedof heat and cold resistant, airtight, waterproof and durable material ofultimate strength. These requirements are accomplished by utilization ofwoven HOSTALEN-strip material, high pressure treated with double-facepolyethylene coating.

Cargo parachute canopy and pilot chute canopy are preferablymanufactured using a muitidirectional, nonwoven bonded mat material ofany fiber.

The cargo parachute combination in accordance with this invention servesevery purpose required. CArgo parachute and pilot chute canopies withcontainers, clevis and connecting elements represent one complete andsolid unit, that may be stored and transported as such, withconstruction features allowing for expedient, reliable and safeattachment to load even by unskilled personnel. Compared to conventionalcargo parachute systems, weight and dimensions of said cargo parachuteassembly have been considerably reduced.

in accordance with this invention, maintenance of the equipment is nolonger required, allowing for guaranteed immediate application of saidequipment. The possible loss of components has been completely deleted.Materials utilized in the manufacture of canopies and containers allowfor extreme storage conditions and periods, with temperatures rangingfrom -5Q C. up to +70 C. in accordance with this invention, the cargoparachute assembly may be classified expendable equipment, due to lowmanufacturing cost and considerable expenditures for an intendedrecovery. Simplicity of construction and appropriate manufacturingmethods yet using strong materials add to this feature.

This invention is further described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. ll illustrates one form of cargo parachute assembly according tothe invention;

MG. 2 is perspective view of a closed cargo parachute container;

FIG. 3 is a similar view of the container as in FIG. 2 in opencondition;

lFlG. 4i is top view of protector flaps with suspension web retainerloops.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing the protector flaps as inMG. 5 sewn to side panels of container as per FlGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 66 is a cross-sectional view showing stowed suspension webs onprotector flaps; and

HQ. '7 is vertical sectional view of complete cargo parachute assembly.

Connector snap it at static line 2 of pilot chute pack is attached toanchor cable in the aircraft. Upon dropping the load static line 2 isreleased from retainer loops. Static line deployment withdraws pilotchute canopy l from pack 3. Pilot'chute inflates. The drag of the pilotchute is transferred from pilot chute connector strap 5 to container 6of cargo parachute 7,8. As the load falls free of the aircraftsuspension webs 8 are withdrawn from container 6, permitting canopy 7 ofcargo parachute 7,8 to deploy. Deployment and inflation of cargoparachute 7,8 are being controlled by break cord ties in theconventional manner. The clevis 9 is the load attaching element betweensuspension webs 8, suspension web connector straps l9 and main parachute"7,8.

in accordance with H65. 2 through 5 the container 6 of main parachute'Ld comprises a bag that is closed by lacing, with release straps sewnto the inside of the container, crossing each other at the openingprovided for in the bag bottom. FIG. 2 illustrates the container 6closed and laced up. Fig. 3 shows container in open condition. Theclosing flap W is a permanent part of container 6. The three open edgesare fastened to the top edges of the container by means of a threadline, pulled through a continuous row of loops provided for around thetop edges of the container and around the three open edges of theclosing flap. Two each retainer loops 12 are sewn to the side panels ofthe container 6 and provide break cord tie attachments fastening cargoparachute assembly to load.

Protector flaps i3 and M, FIGS. 1 and 5, are sewn to inside of containerside panels 6 as shown in FIG. 5. These protector flaps i3 and Viseparate the folded canopy 7 and suspension webs ti, which arepositioned on top of flaps i3 and i4 and stowed to retainer loops 1 .7.The two protector flaps are secured to each other by pulling loops I15of flap M.- through openings i'ii of flap 135. Figure 5 illustrates theinstallation.

FIG. 6 shows completed procedure of securing protector flaps l3 and 14by pulling loops 15 through openings 16 and stowing suspension webs 8 inretainer loops 17 of protector flaps l3 and 14.

FIG. 7 illustrates separable attachment of pilot chute pack, consistingof items 1 through 5 to bottom of main parachute container 6 holdingcanopy 7 and suspension webs 8.

According to this invention, the cargo parachute assembly may bemanufactured in various sizes, ranging from small to medium and largeload capacities. Parachutes according to this invention may also beutilized for man-carrying purposes. The parachute assembly withcontainers and canopies manufactured of material in accordance with thisinvention shall be classified expendable equipment for one-timeapplication.

This invention is not restricted to the particular embodiments describedherein, but embraces other embodiments falling within the scope of theappended claims.

Having now described the means by which the objects of this inventionare obtained,

lclaim:

l. A cargo parachute assembly composed of a single preassembled unitcomprising a container (6) having inside main panels, a cargo parachute(7,8) in said container, a pack (3).

containing a pilot parachute canopy (4) permanently attached to saidcontainer (6) by a pilot parachute connector strap (5), bottom meansseparately fastening said pack (3) to said container (6), means securinga load connective clevis (9) to said cargo parachute, release straps(ll) sewn to the inside main panels of said container (6), said strapscrossing each other at the bottom of said container (6) and forming abridle loop for the attachment of said connector strap (5), and saidcontainer (6) and said pack (3) being composed of woven HOSTALEN- stripmaterial high pressure treated with double-faced polyethylene coatingfor being heat and cold resistant, airtight, waterproof and of durablematerial of ultimate strength.

2. An assembly as in claim I, said cargo parachute canopy (7) andsaidpilot chute canopy (4) being composed of a multidirectional,nonwoven, bonded fibrous mat material.

1. A cargo parachute assembly composed of a single preassembled unitcomprising a container (6) having inside main panels, a cargo parachute(7,8) in said container, a pack (3) containing a pilot parachute canopy(4) permanently attached to said container (6) by a pilot parachuteconnector strap (5), bottom means separately fastening said pack (3) tosaid container (6), means securing a load connective clevis (9) to saidcargo parachute, release straps (11) sewn to the inside main panels ofsaid container (6), said straps crossing each other at the bottom ofsaid container (6) and forming a bridle loop for the attachment of saidconnector strap (5), and said container (6) and said pack (3) beingcomposed of woven HOSTALEN-strip material high pressure treated withdouble-faced polyethylene coating for being heat and cold resistant,airtight, waterproof and of durable material of ultimate strength.
 2. Anassembly as in claim 1, said cargo parachute canopy (7) and said pilotchute canopy (4) being composed of a multidirectional, nonwoven, bondedfibrous mat material.